[Lee Daehwa & Han Sujin]

"Do you remember when I found you in the streets, all alone? It was two months ago, more or less..." I scratch my head as I recall the night when I found Sujin, all alone, with a bunch of bags and a bloody red face.

It wasn't an easy night. I had had my ump-teenth scuff with my boss, who reminded me how I'm just a filthy immigrant to her, as usual. Since moving to the USA years ago, I've dealt with dozens of scumbags always pointing the finger at me for being "just an immigrant." As if I could never be an American citizen.

They say it's the survival of the fittest. Whoever can't blend in and become a full fledged American has no place here, according to the unwritten laws of this stupid society. That's pure bullshit. To those dickfaces, I'll never be fully American. They can go and fuck off, honestly.

Anyway, I decide I want to toss all the negativity away. I can't mope down all the time, especially because Sujin is here and I want to show her she can still rely on me even in the hardest times, such as now.

I restart talking, hoping to shed a new light to the narrative. "It was like a sign of destiny, as if we were meant to reunite. We're finally together again after many years apart." I clasp my hands out of enthusiasm and smile widely at my friend and confidant.

Then, I change subject. "Speaking of destiny, what about Sim Daejung? Has he finally realized that he can't escape us forever? Or at least you?" She frowns at me, confused at my questions. Perhaps, I should've slowed down a bit. It's not like it's an easy situation to get out of.

She points out. "Unnie, I've never mentioned you in my texts. Sorry. He's already pissed at me, let even at you. Do I have to remind you how he rejected you, calling you a creep?" This hurts. It makes me think of when he chased me years ago because of my excessive attachment to him.

At the same time, it makes me also think of how we started mending our strained relationship over the phone, in the middle of the pandemic. As of now, he and I are just friends. Maybe one day there'll be something more, but I don't think keeping my hopes up will help.

So, I explain, "I don't think you've kept up with our situation yet. We actually made up years ago." I grin when saying the last sentence, much to my friend's bewilderment. She wonders how I managed to be in good terms with Daejung in spite of him thinking lowly of me in the past.

I continue. "If you can learn from your past mistakes and move on, I don't see how you should live in anguish and guilt forever. It's not like he'll resent you forever. He isn't a vindictive person." For some reason, this statement sounds far from the truth, but isn't a complete lie either. Even though he used to dislike me, Daejung isn't one to turn others against me.

Still, he still has good reasons to hold a grudge against my family. My father was directly responsible for killing his best friend in a car crash, but would only admit fault on his death bed. According to news from an old acquaintance back in Seoul, he passed away in solitude and wouldn't want anyone at his funeral.

Even though life punished him more than enough for what he did, including his involvement in the infamous tax evasion scandal, that was a little too much. It's like there's no chance of repentance, of learning from mistakes. This is why I try to make sure history doesn't repeat.

Enough talking about my deadbeat father. There's a more pressing matter I have to face now, and it takes a lot of courage. I explain, "What I'm going to do next is very simple. I'm gonna go and find Daejung."

"But how? You don't even know where he lives, and I'm pretty sure tracking him on social media is going to be hard." Even though Sujin has a point, there's no time for negativity. We don't necessarily have to stalk him on social media. I have a plan.

"You are going to contact him. I don't care if he nearly blocked you. He doesn't even know fairy_94 is you," I say, but she isn't really convinced. What argument can I use to make her cave, though?

Anyway, she corrects me. "It's 94_fairy, not fairy_94. And, yes, he does believe I'm a stalker. But, hey, the last message on our chat is his." Really? She hasn't mentioned that yet. What does she mean?

I clear my throat, wanting to ask her a question, but she just keeps talking. "Yes, I swear he was the last one answering this time! He asked me who I am. I haven't replied yet." Her voice becomes increasingly lower, as if she's ashamed of ghosting him. Come on, why should she be? If anything, he did ghost her more than once and would only reply after weeks, or even months.

I rub my hands. "Okay, now, listen. You know I love you. You're like a little sister to me. This is why I don't think you should answer that message," I advise. "You'll introduce yourself in person, when you two will finally meet in real life. Don't you agree this is a better idea?"

She plays nervously with her hair, then shakes her head. I hate when she's so stubborn. She needs to realize this is her best shot at finding out if Fate is right, or if Daejung's first impression is.

"Come on." I insist. "Don't you want to let him know what you feel for him, for once? Don't tell me you don't care anymore..." Her gasp as I tease her is priceless. I don't know how I've just manage to trigger a positive reaction in her, but my persistance is working.

"You're right. This is my best chance and I have to take it. But, I have a question. How can we trace him without passing off as stalkers and without me replying to his last text on KakaoTalk?" she asks rightfully. I'm actually happy that she has questions. This means that I can lay down my plan in detail.

"There's a place downtown I go whenever I want to have a drink on my own after work," I reply. "His name is thrown in conversations a lot. I wonder how many connections he has here."

"More than we could think... So, where is this place? Let's go, before it's too late." Sujin wants this shit to end as soon as possible, but she needs to be patient. First of all, Daejung isn't very approachable when he's having his "me time," especially at pubs. As far as I know, he hates drinking with other people and prefers doing so on his own.

If we catch him at The Stranger, we must make sure he isn't having a drink, or else he won't even bother talking to us. Also, we need to be more presentable if we don't want to look desperate.

I point at Sujin's bags. "You don't have a lot of stuff, do you?" She shakes her head. I guess the two suitcases and the backpack she brought from South Korea are really all she has. I though she'd have more, and that she just hid something more in a dumpster or whatever.

"Never mind. I think I can lend you something." I make a sign for her to follow me to the wardrobe. "Come, I have something that will make heads spin." As we both reach it, I say, "Take what you like. After all, you're my guest." I wink at her, and she blushes.

This plan is going to work, I'm sure. It just takes some good luck on our side.